Manchester City head to Brighton this weekend for their final Premier League game of the 2018/19 campaign.

This will be the third time the teams have met in the last eight months, with a home clash at the Etihad back in September and an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley at the beginning of April.

Pep Guardiola has already had several occasions to dissect Sunday's opponents this season, and several to talk about their strengths and weaknesses both before and after watching them live.

Ahead of a game that will determine whether or not the Blues become the first team in a decade to retain the title, here's a look at what the manager has had to say about Chris Hughton and his team in recent meetings.

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Raising their game against big teams

City had critical tests coming up against Hoffenheim and Liverpool at the beginning of October, but the message from Guardiola was that the players had to turn up against a side that had already performed well in big games if they wanted to get selected for future trials.

“I know what they have done against United at home and at Anfield they were so close to getting a point there. I watched the game and they played so well in the second half," he said ahead of the Premier League game in September.

“They are a good side with a good manager. They have been together for a long time, they know exactly what they have to do. [Glenn] Murray is in top form, [Anthony] Knockaert is an amazing winger, they are really well-organised so it will be a really tough game."

Strengths and how to stop them

Precautions were taken for floodgates opening when Gabriel Jesus scored the opening goal of their FA Cup semi-final inside four minutes at Wembley, but that would prove the only time either side put the ball in the net.

The Blues dominated possession but were put under pressure by Hughton's team in the second half - although Guardiola praised his team after the game for the way they shut the game down after the hour mark.

Asked if Brighton had worried him in the second half, he said: "[For the] first ten or 15 minutes, and then after that – no. After that we conceded one shot on target, which maybe should not have been allowed. Of course in the last minutes when it falls in the area, they are so dangerous, they are massive, so tall. It was tough. It is a semi final.

"They are incredible defensively, they are so tall and well-organised. We broke the game quickly but after that it was tough for many reasons so we're happy to be in the final."

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Attack, attack, attack vs pride

The message for City's players after beating Leicester on Monday night was that there are two games and two titles to go. However delirious the ground was after Vincent Kompany's wonderstrike, it was the job of the manager to rein in the celebrations.

You have to go back to Anfield in October for the last league game City failed to score in, and Guardiola's words on Monday night indicate the home team will face a tough ask to end that run.

"We have one more game left. It will be tough at Brighton. We played them in the FA Cup semi-final a few weeks ago and know how tough it will be. They are strong with set-pieces. I know they are going to play for pride but it is in our hands.

"We are going to go to Brighton and make an extra effort to win: attack them and attack them and attack them to be champions."